Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Okay, I confess. I'm on deadline, so I was working and really wasn't paying much attention to Idol tonight. For the most part, I don't think I was missing much. I mean, come on. Neil Diamond? What were they supposed to do with those songs? David Cook notwithstanding, they sounded (to go with a Simon favorite) like 70's karaoke.

But I must admit to being more than usually amused at Paula's flub when the judges were giving their comments after the first round of songs and she read her notes for Jason's second performance!

Okay, we all know that Paula, Simon and Randy make judgments based on the dress rehearsal as well as the live performance. Most singing competitions do the same. But they are supposed to at least try to preserve the illusion that we're getting an on-the-spot gut reaction. Oops.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

It's meme time! I've been tagged by Jenny.The rules:a. Link to the person who tagged you.b. Post the rules on your blog.c. Write six random things about yourself.d. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.e. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog.f. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

Okay, here goes... Six random things about me:

(1) I used to work for the U.S. Senate. My boss was the Labor and Human Resources Committee's Special Investigator, who was investigating a certain nominee for Secretary of Labor. Um, I think that's all I can say.

(2) I grew up at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah and never learned to ski until I moved to Ohio!

(3) I love musicals. As in watching/listening to, not singing/acting in. Last visit to New York, I saw Wicked (for the second time), Spamalot and Sweeney Todd and I was in musical heaven! I've seen Les Miz and Phantom about five times each. I even saw Cats, Phantom and The Lion King in Tokyo. In Japanese. Don't ask me how much I understood.

(4) I'm a terrible procrastinator. Fortunately, I work well under pressure... which is good because I create pressure situations constantly by not managing my time well. Like right now...

(5) My grandpa was a painter and I always wanted to be an artist like him, but I didn't have the "skillz". My brother is a phenomenal artist, though, and his daughter is unbelievably gifted, as is another niece of mine, so it does run in the family... just not through me.

(6) I drive my kids crazy by having a song for every occasion. When bits and pieces of lyrics seem to fit the moment, I can't help belting them out. And I know a lot of songs...

I'm back from my whirlwind trip to Utah. Hint: don't try this traveling stuff when you are on deadline. I'm just saying...

I truly believe Utah is one of the most beautiful states in the nation. Just look at these mountains! Heaven.In Park City, I met up once again with Vic Method (entrepreneur and patron saint of Women's Ski Jump USA) and Nikki Stone (Olympic gold medalist, motivational speaker and all around nice person.) Vic caught me up on all the latest IOC ski jump news and I am happy to report that Vancouver is not dead!Things are happening so keep your eye on Canada in the coming weeks for the drama. And look out for ESPN's upcoming report on women's ski jumping - airing the 18th of May, I believe. Go Vancouver 2010!

Nikki, meanwhile, is just a few weeks away from welcoming a new addition to her family. Awwww.

In Ogden, I was able to escape with author friend Wendy Toliver for sushi. It was so cool catching up with her - and she gave me this bottle of champagne to celebrate my latest sale, isn't that thoughtful? Such a class act. Wendy's the author of THE SECRET LIFE OF A TEENAGE SIREN and the upcoming (next year), MISS MATCH, and it sounds like she's got something very cool in the works as well... Keep an eye on her. She is one to watch for sure.

Meanwhile, I'm happy to be home to my own bed and my own computer and catching up on everything I missed while I was gone!

Friday, April 25, 2008

Pardon the late post - I'm on the road longer than I thought I'd be... but the contest is ON!

Only 20 days until DEATH BY BIKINI hits the shelves!!!

To celebrate, I'm giving away another signed advance reader's copy of DEATH BY BIKINIalong with an adorable bikini pendant to one lucky reader today. (Note: because I am still on the road, this is not the picture of the pendant, but a representation.)

All you have to do to enter is to reply to this post. And since I am traveling, I will leave the contest open until Saturday night.Let the games begin!

Friday, April 18, 2008

My new book, DEATH BY BIKINI hits the shelves just in 27 days and I'm celebrating by giving away signed advanced copies of DEATH BY BIKINIand other fun promotional swag each Friday, right here on my blog.

I'll also be partying with fellow author friends, so watch right here for more chances to win.Today, back by popular demand, one reader will be randomly-selected to receive their own signed advance copy of DEATH BY BIKINIalong with thistotally adorable bikini pin. All you have to do to enter is reply to this blog.Let the games begin!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Today, readergirlz and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has arranged for teen patients in pediatric hospitals across the United States and Canada to receive 10,000 donated young adult novels, audiobooks, and graphic novels!

And around the country (world!) your favorite YA authors will be dropping copies of their novels where teens can find and read them. If you live near Dublin, Ohio, be on the lookout for my drop of NOW AND ZEN, THE FINNISH LINE, and one advanced reader copy of DEATH BY BIKINI!

AND! You can come celebrate the drop with us tonight at the TBD Post Op Party, an two-hour online book bash , (9 p.m. eastern, 6 pacific) at the readergirlz myspace forum.

I truly hate it when Ryan plays the stupid "choose a side" game. No. Class.

Bravo for David A. for not participating. Like Melinda Doolittle last year, he sat center stage and refused to move. Loved that David C. and then Jason came to sit with him. Class.

Was not so impressed with Carly Smithson, who motioned several times for David to come stand with her group and then jumped up and down gleefully as they went to take their places in the safe seats, completely disrespectful to the bottom three girls left standing on stage. No. Class.

So long, Kristy Lee Cook. She really did well the last few weeks - I'm sure she'll find herself a nice Nashville contract. Hope she gets her horse back.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Well, this will show me. I was worried about the guys with Mariah Carey night, but they completely blew the girls out of the water. There might be something to what the judges kept saying about comparison - maybe the girls were judged harder because of how they stacked up against MC and the boys weren't. I don't know. I do know that the Davids and Jason were my favorites for the night.

I could have predicted David Archuleta would sing Miracles.

Good song choice for him because you can tell he really believes the message he's delivering. Very nice. And his hand on his heart afterwards... how cute is that?

David Cook once again proved he's a genius with Always Be My Baby. Who else could take a girly, bouncy song and make it dark and a little sad - and make it work? I might be over thinking the performance, but he changed the words a little ("You will linger on") and his brother was in the audience and... David cried. Was he singing to his brother? "You'll always be a part of me..." The thought made me get all teary.

And then there was Jason. I love him. He's just so goofy and laid back and phenomenal. Don't you just love watching him sing? He nailed I Don't Want to Cry. I'm sure it will be another big seller with iTunes. I know I'll download it.

I see Carly, Brook and Syesha in the bottom three tonight. Anyone else care to make a prediction?

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

OK, actually I was disappointed as a whole last night... the week was 'inspirational songs' and you'd think all top eight would have blown it out the house, but sadly, no. HOWEVER, Jason Castro and David Archuleta were brilliant. JC sang Iz's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", which I already loved, and DA sang "Angels" by Robbie Williams. (A very apt song for him.) Very, very nice.

I also liked Brooke White (she sang Carly Simon's "You've Got a Friend".) And Kristy Lee Cook was actually pretty good this week.

Sour notes...

What was up with Paula's dress? It smooshed her flat and barely covered half of her chest and looked very uncomfortable. David Cook is very talented but this week his attitude was rather arrogant and it turned me off. Hope he doesn't continue like that.

Monday, April 07, 2008

Yay! After a long writer-strike-induced break, Samantha Who will be back with a new episode tonight! It’s enough to make me want to get all my writing done this afternoon so I can watch guilt-free...

Can’t wait for the new Lost episodes, either... and House! And... is Heroes ever coming back??? And what about Eli Stone? Did they renew? What else am I missing? Any shows you are dying to see come back?

Friday, April 04, 2008

It's coming... the release of my new book, DEATH BY BIKINI is just in seven short weeks! As we're nearing the final countdown, I'll be celebrating by giving away signed advanced copies of DEATH BY BIKINIand other fun promotional swag each Friday, right here on my blog.

I'll also be partying with fellow author friends, so watch right here for more chances to win.Today, one random reader will be selected to receive their own signed advance copy of DEATH BY BIKINIalong with thistotally adorable bikini pin. All you have to do to enter is reply to this blog. Let the games begin!

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Over at TFC today, Alyson Noel asked about books that changed our lives. I listed two in my reply; CITY OF JOY by Dominique LaPierre and A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN by Betty Smith.

Both of these books dealt with hardship and poverty, but they showed the characters rising above their circumstances. When I read them, I gained a whole new perspective and appreciation for what I have.

As I think about it, though, there are so many more books that have shaped the way I see things, taught me about life, given me joy, grew my vision outside my own small world. Books have been a constant in my life and each one of them I've read has contributed something to the way I think, act and feel. In short, books are life.

What do you think? Have you read any books that you believe changed your life?

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

It's April first! For most of us, spring will arrive some time this month. School is almost over. And best of all, in just 45 days, Death by Bikini will hit the shelves!

Meanwhile, how do you celebrate All Fools Day?

How about by becoming a space explorer with the founders of Virgin and Google and join Virgle, the first human colony on Mars? Of course, you'll have to wait until 2014, but you can sign up now! Hurry! I'm sure space (tee hee) is limited.

Yeah, I think I'd like to work for Google. They do have fun, don't they. : )